Ruth Craig v Park Financial of Broward County, Inc.
Repossessed Car Causes Lawsuit for Violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
A class action lawsuit has been filed in the Middle District Court of Florida against Park Financial of Broward County, Inc. and Attorney Ronald R. Torres for violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) which prohibits debt collectors from engaging in abusive, deceptive and unfair collection practices and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act. Class members seek actual, statutory and punitive damages as well as attorneys' fees and costs.
Specifically, the complaint alleges that the Ruth and Anthony Craig purchased a car from Brandon Hyundai in Hillsborough County, Florida and made some payments on the vehicle. However, they ran into financial difficulties and thought they had worked out an arrangement with Park Financial until their car was repossessed late one night at the end of 2003. They attempted to work out a payment plan with Park, were told that they owed a certain amount for the car, but Park would not tell them how they came up with the figure.
Park Financial sued the Craigs for monies due on the car in October of 2004; however the complaint had many factual discrepancies including where they lived and where they purchased the vehicle. The Craigs now bring suit against Park Financial for abusive, deceptive and unfair collection practices and for knowingly including false information in their complaint in violation of the FDCPA.
